5 Ways To Know If Your Vape Coil Is Bad

There are two obvious reasons why you should change your coil: when you get a burnt taste or you can see that the coil is black and gunked up. But what about the less obvious reason? Your coil’s cotton might still be white and you may have changed the coil just a few days ago. What now? Your vape coil is crucial to experiencing a good vape session, so it’s important to go over some reasons why your coil could be bad. In this article, we’ll go over some common reasons why you might need to change your coil sooner than expected. You may even recognize some of the reasons from your personal experience!

1. YOUR FAVORITE E-JUICE TASTES WEIRD

I’m a bit stubborn when it comes to changing coils because I like to get the maximum amount of use with each of my coils. I also have a bad habit of changing e-liquids every five fill-ups or so, which roughly equates to a new flavor every other day. This puts my coil through quite a bit of e-liquid in a month. Towards the end of the second week, I make a special note on how e-liquids taste. If my current vape juice starts to taste different, I keep in mind that I’ll have to change it soon. Towards the end of the third week, I’ll break out one of my favorite e-liquids (like NUDE P.O.M.) that I love and know very well how it should taste. If I don’t enjoy the first couple of pulls of my favorite e-juice or realize that it tastes terrible, I’ll finish that tank (so I don’t waste valuable vape juice) and then change the coil.

2. YOUR VAPE TANK WILL START LEAKING

There are actually a number of reasons why your vape tank could be leaking: a defective o-ring, an overfilled tank, or even laying the vape device on its side. However, if you’ve been using the same vape coil for a while, chances are it’s your coil that’s causing the leaking. A faulty coil won’t be able to wick the e-liquid properly, thus causing leaks via your tank’s airflow holes. Sometimes this is due to a coil not being completely screwed in. Once you confirm that your tank still leaks after tightening the coil, you can safely assume your coil needs to be replaced. I’ve actually had this happen before and not realize that my coil was causing my tank to leak. I always thought it was because I overfilled the tank or some other trivial reason. Make sure you check out all of the possible reasons your tank could be leaking before taking apart your device to remove the coil.

3. YOUR SCREEN DISPLAYS “ATOMIZER SHORT” MESSAGE

I’ve had the pleasure of installing a brand new coil before, wicking it, and filling up my tank, only to see a warning message on my screen. Granted, I’ve only seen this message maybe once every year or so. But it’s still annoying to be ready for a new hit from a fresh coil and be denied by a frustrating display message. Most of the time, this can be fixed by simply tightening the coil. However, if your coil is tight and that message still displays, chances are you have a defective coil right out of the box! I usually throw away that coil and reach for a new one.

Since most coils last me about a month and there are three coils in my pack, I usually don’t care to contact the manufacturer or site I purchased from. If you feel that you deserve a refund or replacement coil, you can reach out to your point of purchase to resolve the issue. Keep in mind, you’ll probably have to return the defective coil along with the rest of the pack that does work, so make sure you have other coils to use while the defective pack gets sent back.

4. YOU HEAR WEIRD GURGLING NOISES WHEN YOU VAPE

You’ll know your coil needs to be replaced if you ever hear weird noises coming from your tank when you vape. These noises can sound like a gurgle, slurping, or choked breath when you inhale. I know, I know, this sounds graphic. But once you hear this sound, you can never unhear it! This sound usually occurs towards the end of the coil’s useful life. It happens because the juice gets so clogged within the coil and it solidifies, thus preventing new e-liquid from easily moving through the cotton. It’s the same as trying to sip through a straw that has a partial blockage (think frozen coffee drinks and a chunk of shaved ice gets stuck halfway in the straw). This noise doesn’t happen very often, but you’ll recognize it immediately as a reason why your coil might need changing. I know it’s the season of Halloween, but I wouldn’t call Ghostbusters just yet! This gross gurgling sound might not be your coil’s fault, but be sure to check out your coil before deciding to purchase a brand new vape device.

5. YOU DON’T GET AS MANY CLOUDS OR AS MUCH FLAVOR AS YOU USED TO

When you first start vaping on a new coil, the cloud production is everything you dreamed of. Deliciously flavored clouds, courtesy of your favorite vape juice, as well as huge puffy clouds that just make your day better. But if your coil is reaching the end of its useful life, your cloud production will become less and less. You may even find yourself taking more frequent hits just to get a strong flavor or satisfying nicotine kick. This is especially true if you vape frequently throughout the day. There isn’t an exact timeframe for the expected lifespan of a coil because every vaper is different. If you vape constantly throughout the day, you can expect your coil to last anywhere from a week to a month.

Using several e-liquid flavors on the same coil definitely impacts the longevity of your coil’s life, but it’s very difficult to resist the call of a new e-liquid after the first few tank refills. If you only vape occasionally (such as with friends or when you’re at a party/drinking), your coil can last you for quite a while. Keep in mind that if you go months without vaping, your coil will get clogged and you’ll need to change the coil to a fresh one to get the best use out of your vape. E-juice is a liquid and can get stuck in the coil’s cotton due to sitting for so long without being used.

CONCLUSION

We’ve gone over a few ways to check if your coil is bad. You may have recognized some or all of these reasons. If your coil is clogged, you can always try cleaning your vape coils with different methods, but the easiest and simplest way to regain your best vaping session is to completely change the coil. For the most part, coils come affordably priced and in several options. The box that your vape kit came in usually has one or two extra coils with different ohms so you can decide which wattage and setup you like best. I like to save these coils as a last resort in case I have no more replacement coil packs. Whatever the cause is for your vape coil to not be performing properly, you can rest assured you’ll be back up and vaping at full power before you know it!

What are some reasons your coil went bad? Were there any methods you tried before completely replacing the coil? Let us know in the comments below! Aside from getting a delightful new flavor, there’s not much that tops the enjoyment of vaping on a fresh coil. Here at ejuice.deals, we understand how frustrating it can get to when you discover your coil is bad. That’s why we encourage you to reach out via email, social media, or phone and ask us your questions.

We have quite a few experienced vapers among us who can gladly answer your questions as quickly as possible. We hope this article has helped give you some clarity on reasons why your vape coil might not be working. Check back with us tomorrow as we explore the wonderful world of DIY vaping, this time for our favorite vanilla flavored e-liquid recipes! Until then, may your tank be forever full of your favorite all-day vape juice, and may the resulting clouds be puffy and full of delicious flavor!